Woman Faces Perjury Charge for False Kidnap, Rape Claim; Court Releases Three

In a case involving gang rape and kidnapping, three men were acquitted by a court. The court directed legal action against the woman who brought the accusations for providing false testimony. During the trial, Satbir passed away. The accused faced charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376(2)(n), 366, 323, 34, 376D, and 506. The claim of the woman’s abduction was contradicted by the testimony of a priest.

NEW DELHI: Three men were acquitted by a court in a case involving gang rape and kidnapping. The court expressed the view that any woman who misuses the law to falsely accuse someone of rape should face severe consequences, as perjury has become a serious issue. Additional Sessions Judge Jagmohan Singh, presiding over the Special Fast Track Court, noted that the behavior of the woman who made the accusations was highly suspicious and inconsistent with her story. Consequently, legal proceedings under CrPC 344 (dealing with false testimony during trial) were ordered against her.

“The evil of perjury has assumed alarming propositions in cases depending on oral evidence, and in order to deal with the menace effectively, it is desirable for the courts to use the provision more effectively and frequently than it is presently done.”

The woman alleged that Satish and three others, namely Yogesh Gupta, Kuldeep, and Satbir, had abducted and sexually assaulted her. She further claimed that they threatened to distribute her nude photos and videos to her in-laws. Additionally, she accused Satish of threatening to file a bigamy case against her using a forged marriage certificate. It’s worth noting that Satbir passed away during the trial. Charges were formally brought against the four individuals in February 2016 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376(2)(n) (for repeated rape), 366 (for kidnapping and facilitating marriage), 323 (for causing voluntary harm), 344 (for unlawfully confining for a period of 10 days or more), 34 (for sharing a common intention), 376D (for gang rape), and 506 (for criminal intimidation).

The court observed that the case stemmed from the woman’s marriage to Satish at an Arya Samaj temple, during which she concealed her prior marriage. According to the court, Satish intended to pursue legal action against her. The woman asserted that she was kidnapped on November 29, 2012, held captive in Karnal until December 10, and subjected to gang rape. However, the judge referenced testimony from a priest indicating that she was in Delhi at the time, where her marriage to Satish was solemnized. As a result, the judge deemed her testimony lacking in credibility.